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Headshot of Diana Varma

Diana Varma

Contract Lecturer
EducationBTech, MA
OfficeHEI 307

Education

  • BTech, Toronto Met (Graphic Communications Management)

  • MA, University of Alberta (Communications and Technology)

 

Biography

Diana Varma is an award-winning lecturer and columnist by day, and an avid podcaster by night. Diana is a Registered Graphic Designer (RGD) who teaches within the School of Graphic Communications Management (GCM), as well as the Master of Digital Media (MDM) Program at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she helps students connect their technical left brains, creative right brains and entrepreneurial hearts for fulfilling careers in creative industries. Diana is a multi-passionate educator whose practice is rooted in storytelling and experiential learning in the areas of design, typography, print management, publishing and interdisciplinary innovation. 

Diana writes a monthly column in Canada’s leading trade publication for the printing industries, Graphic Arts Magazine, where she has written 150 articles about trends affecting both the technical and human sides of the graphic communications industry.

Diana also writes, hosts and produces a podcast called Talk Paper Scissors, where she tells the story behind the printed pages. With listeners on six continents, the podcast is focused on creativity in graphic communications, including topics related to design, printing, typography, branding, books and publishing. 

Prior to her current roles, Diana worked in the areas of Project Management and Sales in the trade book publishing division for Canadian book manufacturer, Marquis Book Printing (formerly Webcom Inc.).

In 2019, Diana was awarded one of two Dean’s teaching awards for Contract Lecturers in The Creative School. She is a curious human who takes her self-appointed title of ‘Exceptionally Enterprising Experiential Educator’ very seriously. (Miss. Frizzle of The Magic School Bus fame is her idol.) 

 

Research Interests

Book production and publishing, brand management, graphic design, accessibility in graphic communications, entrepreneurship in creative industries, creativity studies, experiential learning, technology for teaching, non-traditional teaching assessments

Graphic Arts Magazine (external link, opens in new window) 

Talk Paper Scissors Podcast (external link, opens in new window) 

Diana Varma, RGD (external link, opens in new window)